City design firm signs deal to work with TV star Sarpong

Aug 10 2007 by Alistair Houghton, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL design firm Black and Ginger has signed a top-secret contract to work with television presenter June Sarpong.

The MTV and Playing It Straight host picked the Colquitt Street-based company from a choice of dozens of agencies in the UK to work on the unidentified “lifestyle project”.

Black and Ginger launched in 2003 and, backed by creative industries support agency ACME, is keeping tight-lipped about details of its work.

Ms Sarpong, 30, said: “I decided to work with Black and Ginger because they are one of the most talented and innovative design agencies in the country and have been a total joy to work with.”

Black and Ginger managing director Matt Wardle said: “This is a tremendous honour for us, particularly as we were selected from thousands of other agencies from across the country.

“She has exacting standards and works with the best in the industry. To be in the running was one thing but to be the agency to actually handle her account is fantastic.

“We can confirm we have signed a contract with Sarpong, but the precise details of the project cannot be revealed at this stage.”

Kevin McManus, director at Merseyside ACME, said: “Black and Ginger have competed nationally for this contract against the best in the business. Once again, it’s great to see the strength of Merseyside’s design offer being acknowledged.”

Ms Sarpong presented for MTV for many years, and most recently hosted ITV2’s WAGS Boutique. She has worked with the Princes Trust for six years and was awarded an MBE last year.